Developing consensus: mercury science and policy in the NAFTA countries (Canada, the United States and Mexico)

Pilgrim, Wilfred; Schroeder, W. H.; Porcella, Donald B.; Santos‐Burgoa, Carlos; Montgomery, Shelagh; Hamilton, Andrew; Trip, Luke

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(00)00635-5

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Some countries have issued or proposed reductions in anthropogenic Hg emissions, but the effects of these reductions are insufficiently understood. The link between atmospheric Hg deposition and MeHg concentrations in fish remains a knowledge gap in predicting the effects of Hg emission reductions (5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Loading Rate on the Fate of Mercury in Littoral Mesocosms

Orihel

Paterson

Gilmour

et al. 2006

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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The effects of changes in atmospheric mercury (Hg) deposition on aquatic ecosystems are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the biogeochemical cycling of Hg in littoral mesocosms receiving different loading rates (7-107 microg Hg m(-2) year(-1)). We added a 202Hg-enriched preparation to differentiate the experimentally added Hg from the ambient Hg in the environment. This approach allowed us to follow the distribution and methylation of the isotopically enriched ("spike") Hg in the mesocosms. Within 3 weeks, spike Hg was distributed throughout the main environmental compartments (water, particles, periphyton, and sediments) and began to be converted to methylmercury (MeHg). Concentrations of spike total Hg and MeHg in these compartments, measured after 8 weeks, were directly proportional to loading rates. Thus, Hg(II) availability was the limiting factor for the major processes of the biogeochemical Hg cycle, including methylation. This is the first study to demonstrate a proportional response of in situ MeHg production to atmospherically relevant loading levels. On the basis of mass balances, we conclude that loading rate had no effect on the relative distribution of spike Hg among the main compartments or on the fraction of spike Hg converted to MeHg. Therefore, loading rate did not change the relative magnitude of biogeochemical pathways competing for Hg within the mesocosms. These data suggest that reductions of Hg deposition to lake surfaces would be equally effective across a broad range of deposition rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Loading Rate on the Fate of Mercury in Littoral Mesocosms

Orihel

Paterson

Gilmour

et al. 2006

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Mercury (Hg) is a widely dispersed environmental pollutant with well-known toxic effects (Boening 2000;Pilgrim et al 2000). The amounts of Hg that are mobilized and released into the environment have increased considerably since the onset of the industrial age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of the urban population to mercury in Changchun city, Northeast China

Wang

Luo

2006

Environ Geochem Health

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An assessment of exposure to mercury in Changchun city has been undertaken. We estimated Hg exposure to members of the general population based on currently available information and our research. We also studied the Hg concentrations in scalp hair of adults. Adults have an estimated intake of all Hg species via all routes of 6.780 microg day(-1) (excluding dental amalgam), which equates to an absorbed dose of 1.718 microg day(-1). Fish consumption was the most important exposure route (12% of intake, 43% of absorbed dose). Furthermore, air, cereals and vegetables were important exposure routes, and these exposure were estimated for absorbed dosed at 0.296, 0.209 and 0.318 microg day(-1), respectively. The mean Hg concentration in hair was 0.448 microg g(-1) (range 0.092-10.463 microg g(-1)). Hg concentration in the hair of males was 0.422 microg g(-1) (0.105-2.665 microg g(-1)), and was 0.474 microg g(-1)(0.092-10.463 microg g(-)1) in the hair of females. Neither place of residence nor age had any significant effect on hair Hg concentrations.

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“…They also implemented initiatives and actions, including legislation, to manage and control releases and limit use and exposures of mercury within their territories. 6,[10][11][12] In the southern hemisphere, where most developing countries are located, mining activities (gold and silver) have been considered as the main sources of mercury, and data about other anthropogenic sources and atmospheric mercury concentrations are rare. 6,13 Nevertheless, it must be considered that the productive capacities of many of these countries have increased significantly during the last decade, probably resulting in a significant enhancement of atmospheric mercury emissions in these countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gaseous and particulate atmospheric mercury concentrations in the Campinas Metropolitan Region (São Paulo State, Brazil)

Fostier¹,

Michelazzo²

2006

J. Braz. Chem. Soc.

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As concentrações de Mercúrio Gasoso Total (MGT) e Mercúrio Particulado Total (MPT) foram monitoradas durante as estações seca e úmida de 2002-2003 em dois pontos (industrial e residencial) da Região Metropolitana de Campinas. Não foi observada diferença significativa entre as concentrações dos pontos de amostragem e as concentrações médias foram 7,0 ± 5,8 ng m -3 (MGT) e 0,4 ± 0,3 ng m -3 (MPT). A análise da variação nictemeral mostrou maior concentração de MGT durante o dia, que poderia estar relacionada com maior atividade antrópica durante o dia. Processos de dispersão atmosférica também poderiam explicar algumas variações sazonais observadas na concentração de MGT. Para o MPT foi observada uma tendência de diminuição da concentração durante a estação úmida, o que poderia ser explicado pela remoção das partículas por deposição úmida. As concentrações de MGT e MPT encontradas neste estudo são da mesma ordem de magnitude das encontradas em regiões industrializadas do hemisfério norte. Estes resultados mostram que as emissões das regiões mais industrializadas do Brasil, e provavelmente de vários outros pais do hemisfério sul, deveriam também ser inventariadas e levadas em conta nos cálculos das emissões globais de mercúrio de origem antrópica. The concentrations of Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) and Total Particulate Mercury (TPM)were monitored during the 2002-2003 rainy and dry seasons at two sampling points (industrial and residential areas) of the Campinas Metropolitan Region. No significant difference was observed between the concentrations found at the two sampling areas and the mean values were 7.0 ± 5.8 ng m -3 (TGM) and 0.4 ± 0.3 ng m -3 (TPM). The analysis of the diel variability showed higher TGM concentrations during the day, which could be related to more intense anthropogenic activity during the day. Atmospheric dispersion processes could also explain some seasonal variation observed in TGM concentrations. For TPM concentrations a decreasing trend was observed during the rainy season, which could be explained by the removal of particles by wet deposition. The concentrations of TGM and TPM found in this study were of the same order of magnitude of those recorded in some highly industrialized regions of the northern hemisphere. These data show that emissions from the most industrialized Brazilian regions, and probably from similar regions in other countries of the southern hemisphere, should also be assessed and integrated into the global anthropogenic mercury emission assessment.

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Developing consensus: mercury science and policy in the NAFTA countries (Canada, the United States and Mexico)

Cited by 12 publications

References 21 publications

Effect of Loading Rate on the Fate of Mercury in Littoral Mesocosms

Effect of Loading Rate on the Fate of Mercury in Littoral Mesocosms

Exposure of the urban population to mercury in Changchun city, Northeast China

Gaseous and particulate atmospheric mercury concentrations in the Campinas Metropolitan Region (São Paulo State, Brazil)

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